SLC25A34 protein identified as link between body clock and fat burning

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen’s Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) have identified a mitochondrial protein, SLC25A34, that coordinates how the body manages energy. The protein acts as a link between the body’s circadian clock, temperature changes, and nutritional intake, influencing how brown adipose tissue (BAT) stores and burns fat.

In studies involving mice, researchers observed that SLC25A34 levels increased dramatically—by approximately 90 times—following cold exposure. The protein is regulated by multiple mechanisms, including REV-ERBα, which is associated with the internal biological clock. This regulation ensures that metabolic activity in brown fat follows a rhythmic pattern, typically increasing before waking and declining during sleep.

Associate Professor Zach Gerhart-Hines noted that this discovery could lead to new therapeutic approaches for metabolic diseases. By understanding how this transporter integrates environmental and internal signals, scientists may be able to develop treatments that shift how and when the body burns fuel, offering a different mechanism than current obesity and diabetes medications.